Game piece moving means



Nov. 10, 1953 J. c. ELDER 2,658,757

GAME PIECE MOVING MEANS Filed Nov. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l zo la NOV. 10, 1953 J, C, ELDER 2,658,757

` GAME PIECE MOVING MEANS Filed Nov. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I3 /IZ |3\ W// H ,r1-5 SECTION' AA IN VEN TOR.

NOV. 10, 1953 M J, C, ELDER 2,658,757

GAME PIECE MOVING MEANS Filed Nov. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 7 s 2 9 7a3 f IO/l 6 I 'HH/- I2" Am @LN7 LL\ um W\ QHMMM I3 |3/ INVENTOR,

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Nov. 10, 1953 J. c. ELDER 2,658,757

l GAME PIECEMOVING MEANS Filed Nov. 12T 1949 4 sheets-sheet 4 Fig. H Fig la 38 INVENTR,

Fig. I7 @GQM'A @M2M move inf-each.: `us

simultaneousirov nie new positions W Patented Nov. 10, 1953 .PMPENT oFFo .um camini-i` Elder, Pen Township; Allegheny County,l Pa.

ming@ game; wheel meniloesi forK play on'- the ingactivities; `or' con vides-l for-A s'iiiult. the" floor-'of the d played. f The i distance over' me' freer the is Provided. mfur petitive mo'veient `of#` pices-j goal 01"-3 position tif gafnie 1b ing A each n eo ls"1;2,ar'1"'d 3J represent top,V en'd, andlside elevations respectively. The bi- I l" extends the ent'iie area ofthe top offth invention; with the exception oa bodeij"l5;aound' al1 four sides. H eayy lines4 3'6 are yard markers similar to th'o's'e on football iii'elds.` A goal` post 21 is show'ri ihon't- @10.1.63.fsir` Play .g @same Pf, taxing in. which, the exposed playing Snacegsusgsfs race track# A pair{of}loaifrieijsf` 725; are s'hown ploed' ul the floor. These barjriejrs, 'one with gate" 26 swung on` `hinge 21; together Withna identical Iaipf baiiers` (notshoWifi-)ly plagued' upon' the other` end, are usedflfi",4 playing` gaines* of bonfli't. y .Squares 'l are forfmd by" a plurality of intersecting; recesses of slight depth. A plunger actuator l2, a ilatf rnniloei sustained Von rests [9', extends under' the'4 `Hooi" and' the-Ar stem tips ofplungers hereinafter described. `The f plunger actuator is hoisted towad theflor inbalanoed condition ao paralleli mythe floor' `piane by `bringing toeiner plunger actuatoriifts leef anu'gmds l1. The upvei'df' `trfavelzf` the plungery atuatolis halted-by stops 20, whereupon, itis immediately reieasedtefu to the resi-.sp sidewaus' lssupprmhe'flqor and 1min the actuator' parme this vertioal travel4 through the: ali'r spa-be" under the oor. Othe ess`eritiils1` plunge'rs; recessed plungef seats loated one in'ch depression, aiid plunge? aotuatoi"ldetalil,"` a'deleted froth these figures fojr lsiiflplicjity but wilF b'fny dcibd heeinafteij andipinted outfiii th' elaims.

Heute" l is' a toiviw f of"` a small pd'tio" off the floo'r and Figure' 5 illustrates` aj eoss section o fl that' portion wim the inclusionh off A pmymg pieoes thereon'. l A*jpl`1iiejlity offiritesectingilreces's'esl andplungnerv top 'IV form' theloioi` l'lo'f thefganie inveritin-ea'eh plngertop 'heine-'neatly Stems 31 are. 1.9056.

The left hand plunger and piece 3l of Figure 5 cess, is not occupying the recess, as in position for movement in play. f

In Figure .5 the'right hand plunger is contactedV by a piece and its stem 3 is forced into a position inclined from the vertical. The weight of the composite piece occupying the recess 1, in position for movement in play, with the wheel member 35 resting both upon the recess tand the plunger top VI,'is displacing theplunger` stem causea simultaneous movement of pieces on the `floor. During the upward travel of the plunger actuator, being commonVto all plungers, it en- Ygages vthe stem tips Lof all plungers that are lassociated with a recess occupied by a piece.

When a recess is occupied by a piece, Vthe stem 3 of the associated; plunger is inclinedrfrom the verticalA and displaced laterally atzits lower end,

.so that the stem tip liicomesin contact with a solid portion of the upward rising plungerV actuator. As themovement of the actuator board is continued upward, it simultaneously actuates the plungers associatedlonly with the inclined stems,

as illustrated in Figure 6. The pieces in lcontact Vwith Vand having inclined the stems of the'actuated plungers are caused thereby to roll simultaneously in play on the floor, being laterally Vurgedsuntil ,friction retards their forward motion. The piecesthen gravitate into otherrecesses and stop usually in position for movement Vinplay. Y. Y, e .Y .All plungers having stemsin vertical position -are unot ,actuated` throughout the vertical travel ,of the plunger actuator, 'as illustrated 'by-,the raised-dotted Vline drawing-position of the plunger'actuatorin Figures 5, '7, and 9, and the plunger tops l of all normally positioned plungers remain a part of the floor throughout thevertical travel of the plunger actuator, the plunger stems 3 projecting through openings I3, in actuator as itis raised andrlowered. It can be seen, therefore, that piecescan be'placed in hollowsY 2 of plungers in ,normal position and stabilized there- `by for no movement in play during a simultanev ous movement ofotherrpieces Yon the floor, 4caused by the' plunger actuator in vertical travel.'

A plurality of openings I3 4Y Y which pieces may be caused to roll radially in play from the plungers.

Figures 5, 7, and 9 illustrate plungers of different shapes and with plunger seats suited thereto. The plunger stem tips 4 are at Varying elevations above the plunger actuator; the elevation of the plunger tops I, with respect to that of the Ymost immediate surrounding sections of the depressions I, in whichthey are'seated vary; the'weights of the various plungers vary. These diversities in plunger design eiect a difference Y in distances the various pieces may by chance of llocation on the floor becaused to roll upon the Yplaying surface with each simultaneous movement of pieces, and this inequality lends a novel means for competitive movement of pieces in laterally at its lower end. I 2 is the plunger actue Y ator board in resting position under `the' stern tips games.H .V-Y Y Theicontinu" Vyof'the iioor is broken by open spaces surrounding the plungers and by hollows in the plunger tops. lThese spaces and hollows are of little magnitude in respect to that of the pieces, such as to offer interference-of no consequence to conduct of games. Y

Interrelated Figures 7 and 8 illustrate ameans for releasing hoistedwplungers to normal position immediately following an upward movement of the plunger actuator. In Figure 7, anvellipti- Y cally shaped pieceY 31 rests upon the plunger for with plunger stops Ii fastened tothe stems 3.V These stops maybe desired to hold the plungers VImmediately after pieces Vare forced into mo-77j tion, the plungeractuator is released to resting position, and all hoisted plungers gravitate to normal positionpermitting of pieces propelled in that action tofroll upon plungers which propelledrotherpiecesinthat same action. v e

VSmall holes 8 encircle-theV plunger seats ily at Vtherlowermost elevation of. the :depressions T.

These holes are guides forY placement of pieces Vvtobe moved in the direction desired bythe players, The guidesserve to sustain and stavbilize pieces in position for movement in play,

:prior to movement, as` well as, to provide a selection Vof positions form'overnent in'play no movement intendedoand a spherca-l'piece is in position for movement in play .from right to left. Tapered plunger hole III in which stem 3 passes through the `floor section, restricts the incline of the plunger ,toV` the angle shown. Plunger stern tip 4 is rounded, Figure 8 illus- Atrates the plunger hoisted,V the cylindrically shaped piece having been ,forced into motion. The plunger stemvtip 4 having slid toward the hole I3, in the plunger actuatorduring the hoisting of the actuator, is now in positionV to slip through the plunger actuator hole and return the plunger to normalposition. Y Interrelated Figures9 and 10 picture plungers in place if the game is turned over in storage.

YThe stops-i also serve to vforce theplunger stem tips 4 to move over the surface of the plunger actuator I2, when` the stops `Igcornerin contact 'Withthe under side of the :floorY near the apex vof Vthe upward movement of the plunger actuator.

As thestops areforced full against the under side ^of the oor, VFigure l0, the stein tips are moved c'iver the holes I3 the actuator, permitting the plunger to gravitate immediately to normal-position.A Hole I4 cut partially into the plunger actuator, concentric `with and Ylarger'thanV open- 'ing` I3 serves as a stop to restrain the plunger;V stem from further incline upon contact with'the Vo i the gameV is consummated by several consecut1ve Vsimultaneou,s-movernents-jof the individual Y Pieces the number Qf, morement required depend'- Y VingV upon the circumstances'of displacement gof Y ,thel floor.

pieces in the severalmovements, and the skill ofV theplayers in assigning directionsjof movement of Vthe-various pieces.A In each` of the movements of a play the piecesmove a short distance on .marshal riegsijfoigovsmeattrasladan Y Following 'each Simultaneous move-j ment,the new position-ofthe various piecesmay v .be studied by the players prio t positioning the are moved upon the floor, a forward, backward,

' and lateral rocking motion of the iigure will ensue,

contributing tothe animation in the games. Figures 11, 12, and 13 are views showing three elevations of a composite piece for the football game. The figure 3|, mounting with bearings 34, the axle 32 of the wheel memberV 35 is that of 4a football player. The extended arms are for the purpose of intercepting the ball carrier. If desired, simpler pieces may be employed as shown in Figures '7 and 8. These are an ellipsoid, sphere, and cylinder, respectively. The pieces may be variously colored and lettered, as shown, to establish individual identity of pieces.

It can be seen Vfrom this description that considerable skill can be acquired in playing games with my combination game invention: Considera- Vtion must be given to the direction assigned for pieces to move with regard to subsequent distrivbution of pieces asa possible threat to advantages desired. Principles of billiards should be kept l in mind with regard to angularity of departure of pieces from a point of mutual Contact. Intended movements of pieces may be shielded from the opponent'by deceptive imovements of other pieces.

It is'obvious that my invention is applicable generally to indoor games and is susceptible to modication, the distinguishing feature being a succession of simultaneous movements of pieces for play, with option of direction of movement,

withrprovision for maintaining pieces stationary in a movement of other pieces, and with provision for variance distances pieces may be Vmoved. When in use, the invention should be Y placed on a nearly level table or floor, with the 'playersV exchanging sides when convenient to equalize conditions. Conventional solenoids, af-

ixedr to the plunger actuator lifts and guides,

f invention is not in use.

Although the present invention has been de- VYscribed VVwith reference to a particular manner for simultaneous movements of pieces in games, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

.said plunger stems may project whenthe board is raised, provided the stems are'vertical, the stems which are not vertical engaging the board whereby Vthe associated plungers and playing pieces are actuated, and means for raising said board.

2; In a game comprising a playing iioor having a plurality of recesses therein for receiving playing pieces, the combina-tion comprising a plunger loosely seated Vin each ci' said recesses and having a stem which hangs vertically downward when the-recess is unoccupied by a playing piece,V and which stem-is displaced laterally at Vits lower end when the associated recess is occupied by a playing piece, and a plunger actuator' which actuates simultaneously only rthose plungers associated with a recessV occupied by a playing piece, comprising a board disposed below said playing oor and constrained to move vertically while in a substantially horizontalA plane, saidlbroard having openings therein, one

Y for each of said plunger stems, through which is raised, providing the stems are vertical, the

stems which are not vertical engaging the board whereby the associated plungers and playing pieces are actuated, Yand means for manually raising said board, said means comprising a pair of lateral handles attached to said board and projecting beyond the limits of said playing door.

V3. In a game comprising a playing floor having a plurality of recesses therein for receiving playing pieces which are to bemoved about on said floor and including a plunger located in each of said recesses for moving a playing piece occupying the recessfmeans for simultaneously actuating only the plungers associated with recesses which are occupied by 'playing pieces,

Ycomprising a stem-,associated witheach of fthe plungers, said stem hanging vertically downward when the recess associated therewith is unoc- VHaving fully described my invention, whatI Y and having a stem which hangs vertically downward when the recess is unoccupied-by a playing piece, and which stem is displaced laterally at its lower end when. the associated recess is Yoccupied. byra playing piece, and a plunger ac-V tuator which actuates simultaneously onlythose,

plungers associated with a recess occupied by a 'playing piece, comprising a board disposed below said playing'oor and constrained to move vertically vwhile in a substantially horizontal plane, saidpboardhaving openings therein, one

f for each of said plunger stems, through whichr cupied, and which rstem is inclined from the vertical when the associated recess is occupied,

an actuating board disposed beneath said playwhen raised, wherebyV the plungers associated only with theinclined stems are actuated, and means for raising said board.

` J. CALVIN ELDER.

References cites in kthe 111e of this' patentV UNITED sTATEsPA'rENTs .Number Y' Name Y Date 637,676 Shaw NOV. 2l, 1899 935,585 Campbell 1 1'. SepLLZS, 1909 w 1,654,968 Garveri Jan. 3, 1923 1,821,918 Bishop j f Sept. 8, 1931 1,917,700y C1ark`r r r Julyvll, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country Date 8,033 Great Britain of 1915 163,535 Great Britain Y 1 v May 26, 1921 

